ESPN has selected the Loyola at Valparaiso men's basketball game for distribution on ESPNU on Sunday, Jan. 21.   The game will tip at 3 p.m. CT.   The network has also selected the UNI at Southern Illinois game for distribution on The Valley on ESPN3 on that day with a 3 p.m. CT tip.  The network designations were previously listed as TBD on the MVC schedule.

Loyola and Valparaiso are the two newest members of the Conference.  Loyola joined the MVC for the start of the 2013-14 season, while Valpo is in its first year in the Valley this season.  Both teams had impressive non-conference starts, with Loyola running to a 10-2 start, including a win at No. 5 Florida.  The 2017-18 campaign is a season-long celebration of the 100th year of Loyola men’s basketball. In their storied history, the Ramblers have produced 17 All-Americans, made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament and four in the NIT. Loyola won the 1963NCAA title and to this day remains the only school from the state of Illinois to have captured the NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship.  Valpo started the season 8-0 and notched a 9-4 record out of conference.  Valpo was selected to finish in sixth place in the MVC preseason poll.  Senior Tevonn Walker represented the Crusaders among the preseason All-Conference honorees, earning Second Team accolades.

UNI, too, got off to a great start to the season, but the Panthers have dropped their last four games, including the first two in league play.  UNI built a strong resume during its non-conference play with a mark of 8-4. The Panthers posted wins over SMU (61-58), North Carolina State (64-60), UNLV (77-68 OT) and UT Arlington (62-58).  A rash of injuries has hit the Salukis, who enter this weekend with just nine healthy scholarship players.  Despite that, Southern Illinois has built a 10-6 record including a 2-1 start to league play.  In the first meeting with UNI this season, Southern Illinois snapped a 14-game losing streak in Cedar Falls with a three-point win in McLeod Center.

Using the wildcard/netflex model, the Missouri Valley Conference -- in conjunction with its television partners -- reserves clearance windows for select dates throughout the season and waits until three weeks before the contest(s) to determine network clearances.